Master Zacharius, when he perceived Gerande, went forward and took her by the hand, and led her towards Pittonaccio, saying, "Behold your lord and master, my daughter. Gerande, behold your husband!"
Gerande shuddered from head to foot.
"Never!" cried Aubert, "for she is my betrothed."
"Never!" responded Gerande, like a plaintive echo. Pittonaccio began to laugh.
"You wish me to die, then?" exclaimed the old man. "There, in that clock, the last which goes of all which have gone from my hands, my life is shut up; and this man tells me, 'When I have thy daughter, this clock shall belong to thee' And this man will not adjust it. He can break it, and plunge me into chaos. Ah, my daughter, you no longer love me!"
"My father!" murmured Gerande, recovering consciousness.
"If you knew what I have suffered, far away from this principle of my existence!" resumed the old man. "Perhaps its springs were left to wear out, its wheels to get clogged. But now, in my own hands, I can nourish this health so dear, for I must not die,—I, the great watchmaker of Geneva. Look, my daughter, how these hands advance with certain step. See, five o'clock is about to strike. Listen well, and look at the maxim which is about to be revealed."
Five o'clock struck with a noise which resounded sadly in Gerande's soul, and these words appeared in red letters:
"YOU MUST EAT OF THE FRUITS OF THE TREE OF SCIENCE."
Aubert and Gerande looked at each other stupefied. These were no longer the pious sayings of the Catholic watchmaker. The breath of Satan must have passed there. But Zacharius paid no attention to this, and re- sumed: "Dost thou hear, my Gerande? I live, I still live! Listen to my breathing, see the blood circulating in my veins! No, thou wouldst not kill thy father, and thou wilt accept this man for thy husband, so that I may become immortal, and at last attain the power of God!"
